Darn thing wouldn't start!

[otherclive]

As we were going on holiday I took the car fora 25 mile trip to make sure the battery was charged. Prior to locking it I turned all internal lights to off, although there are some "puddle" lights which dont have switches but are activated when the door is opened/closed. Some 3 1/2 weeks later I go to drive her and whilst the dash lights came on the car would not start as the battery was flat. Subarus have a UK fitted perimetric alarm system which was activated on locking the car remotely. But the info display did not show any alarm sensor had been activated whilst it was standing. So I gave it 3 hours on the charger and she fired up instantly.

I recall when I had an XC 70 that the President of the Volvo Owners Club drove from Devon to London, yet the next day his battery was flat. He was told that it was because he had de-activated the stop-start system, which can inhibit the battery charging mode. I too always switch off stop-start as I just dont like sitting stopped with my foot on the brake. If I apply handbrake the car starts which isn't an option.

I would expect more than 3.5 weeks standing not to flatten a battery. Any thoughts?

 

[tentmonster]

Something similar happened to me with my Renault. Left it for two days - flat battery. The battery was new a few months previous. I charged it for a few hours, it started and has been fine ever since.

I suspect what had happened was that the car had be 'turned on' without me knowing it. Renaults don't have keys - they have a fob which the car detects and you can then start it. Means you can have the fob in your pocket, get in the car and drive it without having to find it. However on this occasion I had parked the car right up against the house to allow the other half to get her car on the drive more easily. I had left my fob on a table just inside the window where the car was parked. I think you would have been able to got into it and started it. Worrying. So I lock it manually on the button now if I park it there.